Label-holder for mail-boxes.



G. P. JOHNSON. LABEL HOLDER FOR MAIL BOXES.

APPLIOATION FILED mm: 18, 1910.

1,044,390, Patented Nov. 12,1912.

W 1Wm fizz W04. BY

COLUMBIA ILANOGRAPH cu, WASHINGTON, u c

GARRETT 1. JOHNSON, ROCHESTER, NEW YQRK.

LABEL-HOLDER FOR MAIL-BOXES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 12,1912.

Application filed June 18,1910. Serial No. 567,674.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GARRETT P. JoHNsoN, a citizen of the United States, r siding at Rochester, in the county of Monroe and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Label Holders for Mail-Boxes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to mail boxes and has for its objectto provide a simple and economical label holder for such box, which label holder can be readily applied to the mail boxes that are now in use, and which label holder when applied can be readily opened by an authorized person, so that the label may be removed therefrom and a fresh label inserted instead. The label holder when locked in position securely protects the label contained therein from the elements and protects it against removal or mutilation by unauthorized persons. This and other objects of my invention will be more fully set forth hereinafter in the specification.

The label in question is the label which usually appears in mail boxes, giving the hours at which mail will be regularly collected from the particular box in question.

lln the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a mail box with my label holder attached thereto. Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse section through the label holder and the front plate of the mail box, showing the construction of the label holder and the method of attaching it to the mail box. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section through the label holder, showing the construction and arrangement thereof. Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail view of the parts 24:, 25 and 26.

In the accompanying drawings like reference numerals indicate like parts.

10 denotes the mail box, to the front plate of which the label holder 11 is pivoted at 12. This label holder consists of a rectangular metal frame 13 having length and breadth suflicient to carry therein a label of suitable dimensions. Formed on one side of said frame and integral therewith are the lugs 14E, 14:. These lugs, together with the lug 15, form a hinge by which the frame is fastened to the mail box. Integral with the lug 15 is the screw 16 which passes through the plate 10 of the mail box to which it is fastened from within by the thumb nut 17. On the side of the frame opposite this hinge is placed another screw 18 which passes through the plate 10 of the mail box and by which the frame is held securely in position by the thumb nut 19. Both of the thumb nuts 17 and 19 are put in position from the inside of the mail box and after the frame has been placed in position thereon. The screws or studs 16 and 18 are placed on the hinge and frame respectively so as to coincide with screw holes that are usually found on mail boxes. When the label holder is in position on the mail box it occupies the position shown by full lines in Fig. 1. Then, however, it is desired to open the label holder for the purpose of changing the label therein, the thumb nut 19 may be removed from the screw 18 and the label holder may then be dropped down to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1.

As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the label holder carries a glass plate 20. This glass plate is bound around with a metal binding 21 which securely protects the edges of it and strengthens it. This metal binding has a flange upturned thereon at 22 which on gages with a groove 23 cut in the frame 13 of the label holder. This binding also materially assists in making the label holder waterproof, as will presently more fully appear. This binding also carries a flange 24 ,by which it may be fastened to the frame 13 by the screw 25. The frame is grooved as shown at 26, 26, which groove extends con tinuously around all four sides of the frame and serves as a convenient receptacle for a filler which can be placed between the glass 20 and'the frame 13. For this filler I prefer to use ordinary white lead, although it is obvious that any other suitable waterproof substance would answer the purpose equally as well. With this metal binding around the glass plate, it is obvious that the glass may be placed in proper position in the frame of the label holder, being sealed therein with white lead and left therein until the white lead hardens without danger of having its position disturbed in the meantime.

Pivoted at 27 to one side of the frame is the card receptacle 28 which consists of an ordinary metal plate having flanges bent up thereon on three sides, leaving one side open for the insertion and removal of the card. This card holder is shown extended in dotted lines in Fig. 1, being in that figure shown in the position to which it may be turned while the glass plate is exposed for cleaning or while the card contained therein is being removed and another one inserted in its stead. A small handle 29 is formed thereon by which it may be the more readily opened and closed. On the upper side of the frame 13 I provide a groove 30 in which may be inserted a strip of rubber packing which when the label holder is in position may be compressed between the label holder and the mail box, thus effectually waterproofing the joint between the label holder and the mail box and keeping the card dry in consequence. The lugs 14 are formed with shoulders 31 which when the label holder is turned down, will rest against the plate 10 of the mail box and hold the label holder in substantially a horizontal position, in which position the cards therein can be readily changed. If the glass plate is broken a new plate can be inserted in the label holder in its stead, or the label holder can be quickly detached from the mail box and a new label holder with a fresh glass plate therein can be substituted for it instead.

When the card has been placed in position in the card holder the card holder may be folded into the label holder and the label holder may in turn be folded up against the mail box and securely fastened in position by the thumb nut 19. These things may all be done while the door 32 of the mail box is open, and after the label holder has been fastened in place the door 32 may be closed and locked and the label holder is secure against tampering from anyone except an authorized individual holding a key to the mail box. Instead of the thumb nuts 17 and 19 I may use a button, preferably of metal, substantially similar in shape to the half of a sphere, such as is indicated by the circular dotted line in Fig. 2. This button will be cored out and threaded so as to engage with the screw. The hole of either the button or the thumb screw will be reamed out to facilitate engagement with the screw.

Having thus described my invcntion,what I claim as new and patentable is as follows:

'1. The combination of a mail box and a label holder therefor, of a frame clamped thereon, a glass plate mechanically sealed in said frame, a card holder pivoted to said frame and held between said frame and the mail box.

2. The'combination in a label holder for' In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GARRETT P. JOHNSON. lVitnesses:

LENA M. ASH, ALICE M. JOHANNS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, I). G. 

